Variable-transmission gear.



J. J. KNECHT. VARIABLE TRANSMISSION GEAR.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1908.

935,034. ,Patented .,ep1a.28,1909.l

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J.- J. KNECHT.

VARIABLE TRANSMISSION GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1908. v

935,034, n Patented sept.28,19o9.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. .L KNECHT. VARIABLE TRANSMISSION GEAR. APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. a, loos.

935,93@ Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. J. KNEGHT.

VARIABLE TRANSMISSION GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1908.

935,034. Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

5 SBIHIHTS--SHEB'I.1 4.

Hllllllllll Il IIIIIII llll J. J. KNEGHT. VARIABLE TANsMIssIoNGEAR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1908.

935,034., Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

f 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ravira srarns ramena orten.

JOHANN JAKOB KNEQHT, F CHEMNITZ, GERMANY.

VRIBLE-TENSMISSIQN GEAR.

To all whom it may concemr Be it known that l, JOHANN JAxoB KNicoH'r, subject of the German Emperor, residing at Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Variable-Transmission Gear, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism particularly for use in automatic embroidering machines, for converting a uniform rotary movement intov a rectilinear movement of variable length, and an important object is to provide improved mechanism for moving the embroidery frame in accordance with the requirements of the pattern.

The invention substantially consists in using, for actuating an axially movable worm connected to the embroidery frame, a gear-train the members of which can be severally and collectively actuated by a single shaft and are adapted to severally and collectively actuate the worm, the said members being so proportioned that the values of the movements which they can severally impart to the worm are in geometrical series.

After the frame has been moved into position for the first stitch, the movement required to place it in position for the second stitch may be added to the first movement by suitably actuating the mechanism; but in this instance if 'the firstV movement was wrong, owing to false action of the acquard card or the like, so that the first stitch is wrongly placed, the second and subsequent stitches will also be wrongly placed. To prevent this, each movement of the frame may he caused to start from the same position, the frame being moved back to that position after each stitch by reversal of the respective members of the gear-train. To avoid unnecessary movement of the frame, the forward movement for the next stitch may be impressed simultaneously with the return movement, so that the actual movement of the frame is the resultant of movements imparted by oppositely acting gears.

In order that the invention may be clearly understoodreference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which four constrpctional forms embodying the invention are shown by way of example, and in which:

Figures l and l2 are respectively a sectional side elevation and front elevation of one constructional form, and Figs. 3 and 4 an end 1 and side elevation ofv another form. Figs.

5 and 6 show a third form of construction in Specication of Letters Patent. Pmgmtedl Sept., 2g, 11909.. Application med September 8,1998. Serial No. 452,099; l

sectional end elevation and in section on the line A-B of Fig. 5, whereas Fig. 7 is a horiz'ontal section through a fourth constructional form. Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 show details of the locking mechanism in,

Additional screws 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 have bearings 17", 17C, 17d, 17e-and'17f carried by sleeves 14, 13, 12, 11 and 10. A sleeve 9 is traversed by th/e screw(A 1, and a'n arm 34a prevents rotation of the said sleeve 9. Suitable means are provided for accurately guiding the screws 1 to 8 and frame 19, 20, but these means are not illustrated, in order not .to over-load the drawing with detail.

0n each of the screw-spindles 1 to 8 is mounted a pinion 2l which is axially movable on the spindle, but not rotatable relatively thereto. Each pinion 21 has a laterally projecting hub-part vwith an annular `groove 22 formed therein, and the grooves 22 are engaged by forks 23 which serve for moving the pinions into and out' of mesh with curved racks 26. of a sector-shaped frame 24 having segmental apertures 35a. The pitch-lines of the racks are segments of circles concentric with a pivot 25 about which the sector is revoluble, and the lengths of the racks are proportional to their distances from the said pivot. rlihe Iscrews 1 to 8 are of different pitches, the ratio of the pitches heilig such that the values of the displacements imparted to the screws by rotation of the sector are in geometrical series, namely as 1: 2: 4: 8: 16: 32: 64: 128.. The sector 24 is actuated by means of a continuously rotating shaft 27 and gearwheels 28 and 29. As clearly shown in F ig. 1, the gear-wheel 29 is of double breadth., and it meshes not only with the gear-'wheel 28 but also with a series' of toothed segments 30, 31, 32, 33 integral with the sector 24. A roller 37a is mounted on the axle 3Ga of the gear-wheel 29 and rolls on a segmental ledge 35 between the racks 30 and 32. The axle rlhe latter are parts.

rlhe frame 19, v

An in- 7. A sleeve 15 mounted on the latter has a bearing 17a for the journal of a screw 6.l

'way of exam le the pinions on the spindles and 8 are s own in mesh with their racks Y I 36a is fixed to the end 34 of an arm '38L rota- 'table on the shaft 27. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the teeth of i '40, which is connected byl rods 41 to the embroidery framewhich is to be reciprocated.

vThe action of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is as follows: Uniform rotation of the gear .wheel 28 causes the pinion 29 to rock the sector 24 toward the right (Fig. 2) by its co-action with the rack 30. Durmg this rocking movement toward the lright the roller 37a is'on the upper surface ofthe ledge 35. Then the pinion rolls down the rack 31 to the rack 32, carrying the roller 37'* tov the under-surface of the ledge 35. The' co-action of the pinion with the rack 32 causes the sector to rock to the left, whereupon the pinion rolls up .the rack 33' to the rack 30, into the position shown in Fig. 2,

` lfrom which it started. y During the rocking nection with the sleeves 16 and 14', and inter- I which they traverse.

of the sector 24 those pinions 21 which are in mesh with their respective racks 26 are rotated and rotate the screw-spindles on which they are mounted, so that the sleeves `on they respective' screws are displaced through varying distances. lin Fig. 1, by

26so 'that only the spindles 5 and 8 receive axial movement due to rotation in the sleeves rThe spindles 6 and 7 between the'spindles 5 and 8 are, however, also axially displaced, owing to their conconnection by the sleeve 15.v rl`he movement due to the rotation of the screw 5 in the sleeve 13 is, therefore, transmitted to the screw 8, and the total movement of the latter is the sinn of the movements due to rotation of the screws in the sleeves 13 and 16.

Itwill be clear that by actuating the forks for shiftingv the pinions 21 and gear-wheel 37, the worm 39 can be moved through varying distances in either direction, so that the sleeve 40 and embroidery frame are reciprocated as required. The actuation ot' the forks may be automatically performed, according to the requirements` of the pattern,

with the aid of automatic pattern meoll-y anism.

The mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be modified by making the racks 26 straight insteadofcurvilinear, and moving them in rectilinear guides.

Referrin now to the const-ructional form shown in `igs. 3 andv4, 42 is the driving shaft, to which a gear-wheel 43 is fixed. About the latter seven screw-spindles 1, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5, 6a, 78L are so grouped that pinions 21hl which are slidable but not rotatable thereon can be moved into engagement with the gear-wheelr 43. O n the screws are. mounted sleeves 9a, 10, 11, 12, 13a, 14, 15", with eyes or bearings 17, 17k, 17m, 17, 17, 17p which inter-connect the spindles in a manner analogous to that described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The hub of each pinion 21n has an annular groove 22a engaged-bym fork not shown in the drawing, by means of which each pinion-,can be moved into and out of engagement withthe gear-wheel 43.A

The diameters of they pinions 21 and the pitches of the screws are so proportioned that the values of the movements imparted to the sleeves by rotation of the gear-wheel 43 lthrough any given angle are 1n geometrical series.

A continuously rot-ating shaft 44'driven by means of a belt 45 has fixed to it an arm 39*-` with a laterally projecting pin or gudgeon 46. To a shaft 40a is fixed a disk 48 provided with radial slots 47. The disk 48 and lever 39 are so proportioned and arranged that during each revolution of the shaft 44 and arm 39 the pin 46 enters one of the slots 47 and impart-s one sixth of a revolution to the disk 48. To the latter is fixed a. gear-wheel 49 meshing with a gear-wheel 50 fixed to the gear-wheel 43so that during each revolution of the shaft 44 the wheel 43 makes a fraction of a revolution and then ceases to rotate. During the intervals of non-rotation of the wheel 43 the pinions 21a are moved into or out of gear, in accord ance with the requirements of the pattern to be produced.- The spindle 7a is connected by rods 41*l to the embroidery frame to be reoiprocated.

In the constructional form shown in Figs. 5 and l6 there are four rotatable shafts 51, 52, 53, 54 connected to each other by gearing so that vthey revolve together.

These shafts are driven by means of a. continuously v.46" during the rotation of the varm 39", so

tha-t during each revolution of the shaft 44b the disk makes one sixth of a '1 -evolution. The shaft 5l is connected to the shaft 52 by gear-wheels and 56. A gear-wheel 57 fixed to a shaft 57a meshes withthe wheel 56 and also with a wheel 58 fixed to the shaft 53. The wheel 58 meshes with a wheel 59 fixed to the shaft 54. Arrows indicate, in Fig. 5, the directions of rotation of the gear wheels 55, 56, 57, 58, 59.

Between the shafts 51, 52,53 and mounted spindles 80 'and 80L which are axially movable but not rotatable. Move- 54 are the embroidery frame in one direction, for

example horizontally, and the shafts 53 and 54 and spindle 80a move the embroidery frame in the other directiomz'. e. vertically The shafts l51 and 52 are squared vbetween their bearings. On the shaft 51 are mounted four slidable pinions 60, 61, 62, 63, and the shaft 52 carries four slidabe pinions 64, 65, 66, 67. rlhe shafts 53 and 54 are similarly provided with slidable pinions not visible in the drawing.

To the casing 78 of the apparatus a tubu-y lar axle 76 is' rigidly fixed at 77. @n this axle are mounted revoluble gear Wheels 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75. A ring of teeth 79 is fixed to the axle. Within the latter the spindle 80 is axially movable but. not. rotatable. A. worm 81 fixed to the said spindle works in the internally threaded hub of a gear-wheel 82 which is rotatable but not axially movable. rl`here are also seven rotatable but axially immovable wheels 83 on the axlc 76, the wheels 83 beingr similar to the wheel 82, with the exception that their eyes are not screw-threaded.

Each of the wheels 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 is traversed between its circumference and hub by a short` rotatable axle 84, to the ends of which are fixed pinions 85 and 86. The pinion 85 carried by the wheel 68 meshes with the ringof teeth 79. Each of the pinions 86, with the except-ion of that carried by the wheel 75, meshes with inwardly directed teeth of the adjacent wheel 83, and each wheel 83 has a ring of teeth 99, similar tom the teeth 79, meshing with the adjacent pinion Y85. wheel 75 meshes with the inwardly directed teeth of the gear-wheel 82. Each ring of inwardly directed teeth of the wheels 83 and- 82 comprises twice as many teeth as form one of thel rings 79 or 99. The pinions 85 and 86 are also uniform, as regards diameter and pitch.

The Wheels 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 are' so positioned that the pinions 60, 61, 62, 63,

64, 65, 66, 67 can beseverally or simulta-` neously brought into mesh therewith by means of forks 89; the latter engage the hubs of the pinions 6() to 67, so that by operating axles 87 and 88, to Which the forks are fixed, the pinions are axially displaced on the shafts 51 and 52 respectively. rlhe axles 87 and 88 are operated with the aid of the pattern apparatus, and may be rotated in either direction. During the intervals in which the wheels 69, 71, 73, 75 are not rotated by pin,- ions 64, 65, 66, 67 they are locked by engagement with the ends 19a of rods 91 rotatable about pivots 92; these rods are shown more The pinion 86 carried by the forks 89 fixed to the axles 87 have downward projections 93 which engage rods 95 rotatable about pivots 94 as clearly shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14; The free ends of the rods 95 enter tooth-gaps of the wheels 68, 70, 72 and 74e whenthe pinions 60, 61, 62, 62 are not meshed therewith, but when the respective wheels are meshed the rods are disengaged. x

The gears are so proportioned that the values of the movements severally imparted to the worm 81 by actuation of the wheels 68 to 75 are in geometrical series.

The action of the 'mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is as follows: Rotation 'imparted, for example, to the wheelI 68 causes the axle 84- carried by that wheel to rotate. with its pinion 85 rolling on they fixed ringr of teeth 79 and its pinion 86 imparting to the adjacent wheel 83 rotation at an angular speed which exceeds that of the wheel 68. The. teeth 99 of the said wheel 88 'therefore rotate the pinion 85 carried by the wheel 69,

and rotation in the opposite direction to that f of the iii-.st4 wheel 83 is transmitted to the second wheel 83, by means of the respe('tivc axle84 and pinion 86. lf the wheel 69 is locked while this transmission of movement is takingr place, the speed of the second wheel 83 is smaller than that of the irst wheel 83. It has already been mentioned that the rings of inwardly directed teeth of t-he wheels 83 and 82 have twice as many teeth as the rings of teeth 99., and'that the pinions 85 and 86 are uniform, so that thc wheel 83 on thc right hand side of the whccl 69 rotates at half the speed of the wheel 83 on the right hand side of the wheel 68. lf the wheels 69 to 75 are all locked, each successive wheel 83 is rotated at half the speed of thc preceding' wheel 83, and in the opposite direction. '.lhe `wheel 82, which belongs to the same series and is the last member thereof, rotates, therefore, through the smallest angle. lf, however, several of the wheels 68 to 75. or all of them, are simultaneously l 'NI ters. lf the wheels 68 and 69 are simultaneously rotated the movements of lmillimeter and 2 millimeters are added together to make a total movement of 3 millimeters,

and if, for example, the Wheels 68, (59V and 75 are simultaneously'rotated the Worm is moved l -1- 2 -l'- 128 -'ll millimeters.

' with the'wheels'GSa to'75a the movements.l

The mechanismsliown in Fig. 7 resembles that shown in Figs.. 5 and (5, but allows of subtracting as Well as adding the movements individually imparted by the gear-elements. l'he wheels 68, 69", 70, 71, 7 2a, 73H-` 74a, 7 5a correspond to the Wheels 68 to 75 shoWnin Fig. 6. The shafts .'31a and 52a, correspondi ing to shafts 51, 52 in Figpt, carry pinions (30a, 61a, 62, 63 and 64a, 65a, (36, 67'* respectively, corresponding to the pinions 6() to 67 in Fig. 6, but they also have mounted on them slidable pinions 64?, 65h, 66h, 67b and (30", (51", 62h, 631 respectively. 48 isa disk with radial slotscorresponding to disk 48 in Fig. G, and the shafts 51a and .'32a are geared Ato each other by means of Wheels 55 and 56a.

The pinions '60 to 67a' and 601 to 467b are` moved into and out of engagement by means 'of forks 89 land 89b respectively, and the wheels 68al to 75 1are locked, when not rotated, by means of dogs 95h. Both the/dogs- 95" engaging a Wheel of the series G8Il to 75a must be disengaged therefrom when yeither of the respective pinions belonging to the' series G0a tol 67 and G01 to G7b is'moved into engagement. n When the pinions 60 to 67a are meshed -which they severally impart are added to gether in exactly the same manner as described with reference to Fig. 6. vWhen the pinions G()b to 67b are meshed with the wheels `68"to 75a the movements which they severally impart are also added together,

but the Worm 8.1a is moved in the direction opposite to that imparted by pinions 60a to i (37a. For example, if the Wheels 68*1 and G9 are sinmltaneously rotated by means of the pinions 1 and 64 respectively, the worm 81a ismoved l +2: 3 millimeters, but if,

while the Wheel. 69 is being rotated by the pinion 64, the wheel G8 is rotated by the pinion (30b instead of G0, the movement-s sevl erally imparted to the Worm by the rotation of the wheels 68 and 69a are in oppositedirections, and thc worm moves 2-1 :1'

millimeter.

' What I claim'as my vinvention and .desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Mechanism for converting a uniform rotary movement into a variable rectilinear movement, comprising in combination a frame, a shaft mounted revoluble in the latter, a Worm movable axially in the frame, a train of gearing comprising a series of interconnected gear-members, and means for actuating said.gear-members severally and collectively from said shaft, said gear-men'ibers being adapted to actuate 'said Worm, said gear-members being so proportioned that the values of the movements which they sevl .I

erally impart to said Worm are in geometrical series.

2. In mechanism for converting a uniformv rotary movement into a variable rectilinear movement, the combination, with-aframe, of

two shafts revoluble in opposite directionsl therein, a Worm movable axially. in the f frame, a series ofdriving pinionsarranged alternately on said shafts, and a geartrain comprising a series of inter-connected planet-` pinions and carriers for the same adapted to be severally` meshed with said, driving pinions, said gear-train beingv adapted to actuate said worm, the members of said geartrain being so proportioned that the movex ments which they severally impartito said Worm are in geometricalseries.

3. In mechanism for converting a uniform rotary movement into a variable rectilinear movement, the combination, with a frame, of two shafts revoluble Iin opposite directions therein, a vvorm movable( axially in the frame, a series of slidable driving pinionsl arranged alternately on said shafts, and a gear-train comprising a series of inter-connected kplanet-pinions and carriers for the i therein,v a Worm movable-` axially in the frame, a series of slidable driving pinions arranged alternately on said shafts, a geartrain comprising a series of inter-connected planet-pinions and carriers for the same adapted to be severally meshed with said driving pinions, said gear-train being adapted to actuate said worm, and a second series of driving pinions mounted slidable alternately on said two shafts 'and adapted to be .severally meshed with the planet-wheel carriers, whereby the latter can be\alternately rotated in either direction, the members of said gear-train being so proportioned that the movements which -they severally impart to said Worm are in geometrical series.

5. In mechanism for converting a uniform rotary -movemcntinto a variable rectilinear iniwel'uent, the combination, withv a fran'ie, of

two shafts revoluble in opposite directions therein, a worm movable axially in the frame, a series of slidable driving pinions arranged alternately on said shafts, and a gear-train comprising a seriesof inter-connected planet-pinions and carriers yfor the I same adapted to be severally meshed with said driving pinions, said gear-train being adapted to actuate said Worm, the spindle of said Worm traversing said planet-Wheel car-' riers, the members of said gear-train being so proportioned that the movements which they severally impart to said Worm are in geometrical series.

6. In mechanism for converting a uniform rotary movement into aA variable rectilinear movement, the combination, with a frame, of tWo shafts revoluble in opposite directions therein, a Worm movable axially in the frame, a series of slidable driving pinions arranged alternately on said shafts, and a gear-train comprising a series of inter-connected ilanet-pini'ons and carriers for the same a apted to be severally meshed with said driving pinions, said gear-train being adapted to actuate said Worm, and means for automatically locking said planet-pinion carriers when the respective drlving pinions are disengaged therefrom, the members of said gear-train being so proportioned that the movements which they severally impart to said Worm are in geometrical series.

7. In mechanism for converting a uniform rotary movement into a variable rectilinear movement, the combination, with a frame, of a driving shaft revoluble in said frame, a radially slotted disk fixed on said shaft,`V a second' shaft revoluble in said frame and geared with the former shaft, a Worm movable axially in the frame, pinlons on each of said shafts, a gear-train, substantially as shox/vn, adapted to be actuated by said pinions for actuating said Worm, and a continuously rotating arm adapted yto engage in the slots in said disk and lntermittently rotate said driving shaft and transmit movement to the gear-train, for .the purpose specified.

ln -testimony Whereo in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHANN JAKOB KNECHT.

1Witnesses: 4

WILLIAM J. KOUJETSUY, FREDERicK d. DIETZ'MAN.

aflix my signature 

